Easy Gluten-free Hash Brown Casserole

Name: Easy Gluten-free Hash Brown Casserole
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 75 min
Ingredients: 3 Tablespoons Butter.; 3 Tablespoons Arrowroot Starch (You can also use corn starch or even potato starch.); 1 Cup Chicken Stock; ½ Cup Milk; ¾ Teaspoon Salt; ½ Teaspoon Pepper; 1 32 Ounce Bag of Frozen Hashbrowns (Plain, shredded or diced.); 1 Batch Cream of Chicken Soup Substitute.; ½ Cup Sour Cream; 2 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese; ⅓ Cup Melted Butter; 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder; 1 Teaspoon Parsley; 1 Teaspoon Salt; ½ Teaspoon Pepper; 2 Cups Crushed Gluten-free Crackers (I use Sachar table crackers. See notes for alternatives.); ⅓ Cup Melted Butter; 1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese

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This cheesy gluten-free hash brown casserole is easy to make, uses no canned soup, and makes the perfect gluten-free side dish for any holiday.

This cheesy gluten-free hash brown casserole is a recipe that I made after my husband had hash brown casserole at Cracker Barrel. If you didn't know, Cracker Barrel hash brown casserole is not gluten-free since it does use cream of chicken soup, which is not gluten-free.

I knew once he started begging me to make it at home, I had to find out a way to make a gluten-free hash brown casserole that didn't use any canned soup.

Gluten-free hash brown casserole in a baking dish.

Is hash brown casserole gluten-free?

Typically hash brown casserole is made with cream of chicken soup which is not gluten-free. Which then makes the casserole not gluten-free. Yes, you can buy cans of gluten-free cream of chicken soup, but don't, lol.

Believe me when I say I have tried so many different gluten-free canned soups, and all of them were terrible. I even spent over five dollars a can on ones that were supposed to be amazing, and it was basically a tasteless, liquidy mess. Not to mention, the spices in some of them are just way overpowering. So instead of trying to rely on the unknown mystery cans of gluten-free cream of chicken soup, we are going to make our own.

Making our own cream soup means we get a delicious and completely gluten-free hash brown casserole.

Ingredients to make a hash brown casserole.

Frozen Hash Browns
Sour Cream
Cheddar Cheese
Gluten-free Cream of Chicken Soup Substitute - Butter, Arrowroot Starch, Milk, Chicken Stock, Salt, and Pepper
Gluten-free Crackers
Garlic
Parsley
Salt and Pepper

Overhead view of the ingredients needed to make gluten-free hash brown casserole.

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How to make a hash brown casserole without canned soup.

This gluten-free casserole comes together in a few simple steps.

Step 1: Make the cream of chicken soup substitute.

Make a roux with the butter and starch.
Add the chicken stock, milk, and spices.
Simmer till it's thick.

Overhead view of the steps needed to make a gluten-free cream of chicken soup.

Step 2: Mix the casserole together.

Combine the gluten-free soup substitute, sour cream, cheddar cheese, and spice into a bowl.
Mix until the sauce comes together.
Add the frozen hash browns to the bowl with the sauce.
Stir to fully coat the hashbrowns in the sauce.

Overhead photo collage of the sauce and frozen hash browns being mixed in a bowl to make hash brown casserole.

Step 3: Top and bake the hash brown casserole.

Transfer the hash brown casserole to a casserole dish.
Top the casserole with more cheddar cheese.
For an extra crispy topping, add the melted butter and crushed gluten-free crackers before baking.

Overhead step photos of putting hash brown casserole in a baking dish, topping it and then popping it in the oven.

A note on the crispy topping.

I like to use crushed gluten-free crackers to top these gluten-free cheesy potatoes. I prefer the Schar brand table crackers. If you can't find these, you can your favorite gluten-free cracker.

Other options.

Leave off the cracker topping, and just leave the top of your casserole with more cheese.
Use a gluten-free rice cereal mixed with the melted butter instead of gluten-free crackers. - Note that not all rice cereal is gluten-free. Name brand Rice Krispies are not gluten-free, but other brands like Malt-o-meal have gluten-free varieties. Always check the label to make sure your rice cereal is gluten-free.

Tips and tricks for the best gluten-free casserole.

Do NOT defrost the hash browns before adding them to the sauce mixture.
Because the potatoes are still frozen, they can stick a little to each other. Mixing the sauce together before adding the frozen potatoes helps to reduce everything from sticking, and the casserole come together.

Hash brown casserole FAQ

Are frozen hash browns gluten-free?

No, not all frozen hash browns are gluten-free.

Potatoes are gluten-free, which is what hash browns are made of. However, some brands of frozen hash browns add ingredients that contain gluten or are contaminated during processing.

Always check to see if the brand you are using is gluten-free.

I use Ore-ida shredded hash browns, which are labeled gluten-free.

Can you add meat to hash brown casserole?

You can easily turn this gluten-free casserole into a full meal. You can add chopped chicken, ham, or even ground beef to the mixture before baking.

Can you make cheese hash brown casserole ahead of time?

Yes, this cheesy potato casserole makes the perfect make-ahead gluten-free side dish.

Make the casserole in the baking dish you want to bake it in.
Cover and place it in the fridge a day in advance.
Let the casserole sit at room temperature for about an hour before baking it off.

Do not place a cold casserole dish into a hot oven. It can crack from the extreme temperature changes.

Overhead view of gluten-free hash brown casserole in a baking dish.

How to serve these gluten-free cheesy potatoes.

Hash brown casserole, also known as gluten-free funeral potatoes, is always a crowd-pleasing recipe no matter when I serve them. It's the perfect gluten-free side dish to serve at a potluck, party, Easter, Thanksgiving, and even Christmas. My husband loves pairing these gluten-free cheesy potatoes with his favorite holiday ham.

More gluten-free side dishes to enjoy.

If you love potatoes and want more, check out my gluten-free scalloped potatoes. or my gluten-free, loaded potato casserole. If you still need some more ideas, check out these delicious gluten-free dishes to add to your next menu.